Film London’s groundbreaking early-stage Intellectual Property (IP) showcase, UPstream, takes place on Tuesday 4 March, with guest speakers Ollie Madden, Director of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama, and award-winning theatre producer Francesca Moody confirmed to share their insights on commissioning and IP development with event attendees.

UPstream showcases a meticulously-curated selection of new and exciting adaptable IP and early stage projects, drawn from the UK, as well as Europe and the US, for an audience of both domestic and international Film, TV and Games producers and development executives. This year’s featured creatives include a Frieze Prize Winner, an Emmy Award-winning journalist, Youtube talent and BFI NETWORK talentprepping for the move to longform, to name but a few.

Guest Speaker Ollie Madden will open the day with a Q&A with Film London’s Chief Executive, Adrian Wootton. Ollie Madden is the Director of Film4, backer of recent films such as We Live In Time, Kinds of Kindness, Love Lies Bleeding and All of Us Strangers. In 2024, Ollie’s role was expanded to include responsibility for Channel 4 drama commissioning.

Multi award-winning theatre producer Francesca Moody MBE will join after lunch to discuss her track-record as one of the UK’s most exciting producers of original IP - including Fleabag and Baby Reindeer – and her vision for the years ahead.

Adrian Wootton, OBE, Chief Executive of Film London, said:

“Upstream embodies what Film London is all about - connection and collaboration, and spotting talent early. This innovative early-stage IP discovery programme reflects and caters for the Film, TV Drama and Games industries’ ever-changing landscapes. We bring in the freshest new UK talent, as well as projects from collaborations with US and European partner markets, cementing London’s reputation as a global hub for content creation. And this year, we’re transformingUPstream into a year-round programme online, bringing the most exciting IP to a national and international development audience.”

Some of London’s leading companies have previously attended UPstream, including Lionsgate, Bankside, All3media, West End Films, Red Arrow, Endor Productions, Britbox, Home Team, Nexus Studios, Neon Films and Green Door Productions.

Enid Zentelis, presented her podcast series, How My Grandmother Won WWII, at UPstream 2021, where she secured a development deal with (Red Arrow Studio’s) Kinetic Content to develop as a scripted project.

Enid said: "I am deeply grateful to Film London’s UPstream for inviting me to participate in this important market. As a result, I have a dream deal with wonderful partners to continue this storytelling journey about my radical ancestors.”

Alodie Fielding, presented her illustrated story Amanita/Dark Dank Woods, at UPstream in February 2022, where it was optioned by a leading Games studio.

Alodie said: “I never even thought about my idea becoming a game, but it means that it will go off in another direction and have a life of its own. I have moved so far forward in this process, I wouldn't have believed it was possible if you told me this would happen back in August 2021."

UPstream is supported by Film London’s core funders: The BFI, awarding National Lottery funds, and BFI NETWORK, who have directly supported this event; the Mayor of London; and the Department for Business and Trade.

For more information, check out Upstream on Substack